After a horror show at home earlier in the week, Stockport County will return to Edgeley Park to welcome Bolton Wanderers for a League One clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Hatters were smashed on their own turf by Wycombe Wanderers last time out, whilst the Wanderers have experienced a full week of training following their FA Cup exit.
Match preview
© Imago
After back-to-back wins over Reading and National League outfit Forest Green Rovers across League One and the FA Cup, Stockport County were quickly brought back down to Earth on Tuesday night, when surprise package Wycombe visited Greater Manchester and produced a five-star performance.
The visiting Chairboys fired themselves into a three-goal lead after just 18 minutes and continued to dominate the Edgeley Park contest for the duration, with second-half strikes from ex-Luton Town man Fred Onyedinma and Aaron Morley completing a 5-0 smashing of the Hatters.
Following their worst defeat of the campaign to date, Stockport are currently occupying 10th position in the League One standings after 14 matches on their return to this level, only two points behind sixth-placed Bolton who lie in the lowest of the playoff spots at this stage.
With his 2023-24 loan spell at Edgeley Park marred by injury, Louie Barry is making up for lost time in Greater Manchester so far this season, with the Aston Villa youngster scoring nine goals across 14 third-tier appearances to date, meaning that he is well in the race for the division's Golden Boot.
© Imago
Bolton come into Saturday afternoon's trip to Stockport looking to make amends following a sobering start to their November schedule last weekend, when the 2023-24 playoff finalists in this division travelled to League Two Walsall, where the visitors were booted out of the FA Cup.
It looked as if the Wanderers would be heading for a spot in the second-round draw last Sunday evening when Josh Sheehan opened the scoring in the West Midlands for the Northerners, but strikes from Liam Gordon and Jamie Jellis changed the course of the contest in favour of the Saddlers.
Focusing on third-tier matters, Bolton come into this clash after back-to-back wins over high-scoring Peterborough United and Stevenage, meaning that Ian Evatt's troops have moved up to sixth spot in the League One table, six points behind second-placed Birmingham City.
Three goals behind Stockport's young hotshot Barry in the Golden Boot race, third-tier veteran Dion Charles has made a solid start to the 2024-25 campaign for the promotion hopefuls, finding the net on six occasions during 13 League One matches, as well as providing one assist for a teammate.
Team News
![Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/dave-challinor.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
© Imago
After the heavy defeat at the hands of Wycombe last time out, Stockport are set to make a number of changes to their starting XI for this match.
As a result, defender Callum Connolly and wide man Jack Diamond are both likely to drop to the bench following their half-time substitutions earlier in the week.
Major changes to the side could provide opportunities from the start for the likes of Macauley Southam-Hales and Isaac Olaofe, with both forced to settle for spots on the bench last time out.
Bolton will make some alterations to the side who crashed out of the FA Cup at fourth-tier Walsall, with Klaidi Lolos and Scott Arfield expected to make room for new faces.
Expect a similar Wanderers XI to the one which smashed Stevenage 4-1 at the end of October, meaning that Victor Adeboyejo should lead the line for the visitors to Edgeley Park.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Rydel, Horsfall, Pye; Southam-Hales, Bate, Collar, Touray; Olaofe, Wootton, Barry
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Forrester, Santos, Johnston; Cogley, Sheehan, Matete, Schon; McAtee, Collins, Adeboyejo
We say: Stockport County 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
After such a detrimental start to their hosting of Wycombe earlier in the week, Stockport will look to be solid in the opening stages against Bolton.
However, we cannot envisage the Hatters keeping a rare clean sheet at Edgeley Park, with a share of the spoils representing a probable outcome on Saturday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
